Medicare Hospice Benefit
If the patient has Medicare Part A and meets hospice eligibility requirements, as much as 100% of the cost of hospice care will be covered by the government. In such a case, there is no deductible or copayment for the patient for services provided under the hospice plan of care.
The majority of hospice patients - about 90% - utilize Medicare and Medicaid to cover their care. The rest turn to other financing sources like private insurance which typically has similar requirements as Medicare.
What Medicare Covers:
Doctor services
Nursing care
Medical equipment (like wheelchairs or walkers)
Medical supplies (like bandages and catheters)
Prescription drugs
Hospice Aide
Social worker services
Dietary counseling
Grief and loss counseling for you and your family
Short-term inpatient care (for pain and symptom management)
Short-term respite care
Any other Medicare-covered services needed to manage your terminal illness and related conditions, as recommended by your hospice team